ST. PAUL, MN (August 14, 2015) – Long hours spent away from home. Many nights spent in cramped motels in cities most of us have couldn’t point out on a map. Oftentimes underappreciated for the tireless work they put in during the year. The role of the baseball scout is a 365 day a year job spent trying to find, not just the next big prospect, but the diamond in the rough. The St. Paul Saints are proud to announce on Friday, August 21 they will induct into the Killebrew Root Beer Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame, Mike Aruckle the current Senior Advisor to the General Manager/Scouting & Player Development for the Kansas City Royals.

The 64-year-old Arbuckle joined the Royals on November 14, 2008 in his current role. He serves as the right-hand man to Royals General Manager Dayton Moore and J.J. Picollo, the Royals Assistant GM/Player Personnel. Arbuckle has input at both the professional and amateur levels. On January 12, 2013 he received a Legends of Scouting Award from the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation.

Arbuckle made his mark in the Philadelphia Phillies organization where he served as Assistant General Manager/Scouting and Player Development from 1993 until his appointed position with the Royals. While with the Phillies he was responsible for drafting Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Cole Hamels and other players who helped form the nucleus of the Phillies 2008 world championship club.

While with the Phillies he was responsible for overseeing the scouting staff, amateur draft, international scouting program and professional scouting program. He also oversaw the player development staff and minor league instructional program along with assisting the general manager with Major League player personnel decisions such as trades and free agent acquisitions.

In 1977 Arbuckle began his scouting career with the Phillies before taking a position with the Atlanta Braves, for 12 years, beginning in 1980. He served as an area scout, regional scouting supervisor and national cross-checking scout.

A graduate of Trenton (Mo.) High School and North Central Missouri College, Arbuckle received a bachelor’s degree in education from Northwest Missouri State University and a master’s in secondary education from the University of South Alabama. He was a 1969 draft selection by the St. Louis Cardinals.

Arbuckle and his wife, Martha, reside in Liberty, Mo. They have two daughters, Shelly and Kellie. They also have four grandchildren: Bethni, Austin, Katey and Emma, as well as one great-granddaughter, Addison and a great-grandson, Aiden.

“Killebrew Root Beer is very pleased to participate with the presentation of this deserving honor to Kansas City Baseball scout, Mike Arbuckle,” said Jim Lundeen, President of RJM Distributing. “Mr. Arbuckle will be joining an exceptional group of fellow professional baseball scouts as he is inducted into the St. Paul Saints / Killebrew Root Beer Professional Scout Hall of Fame.’

Along with Arbuckle, two other scouts were inducted into the PBSHOF by the Goldklang Group, the ownership group of the Saints, along with a scout with one of the organizations the Goldkalng Group has a consulting role with, the Fort Myers Miracle. The Fort Myers Miracle honored the Charleston RiverDogs honored Ed Creech (Giants) on August 7, Luke Wrenn (Arizona Diamondbacks) on August 14, and the Hudson Valley Renegades will induct John Kosciak (Pirates) on September 5.

This unique honor is given to those who exist at the very foundation of player development for the Major Leagues. The inductees will be commemorated with bronze plaques, designed by the acclaimed US Bronze, and placed on display at the four minor

league clubs operated by the Goldklang Group.

In the last seven years the Goldklang Group teams have honored over 65 professional baseball scouts. Past recipients in St. Paul are as follows:

Saints tickets continue to be a tremendous value. Tickets begin at $5 for berm seating (available on day of game), $6 for bleacher seats, $12 for the drink rail, $14 for outfield reserved, $16 for infield reserved and $18 for home plate reserved. Friday Home Games with Post-Game Fireworks are an additional $2 per ticket. Post-Game Fireworks Supershows (September 6) are an additional $3 per ticket. Tickets purchased on the day of the game are an additional $2 per ticket. Children under the age of 12 and seniors 65 and older receive $1 off the admission price. Children under 2 that don't require a seat are free. To learn more about premium areas, please call 651-644-6659.

Saints Box Office hours on non-game days are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. On game days, the Box Office will open at 9 a.m. Sunday through Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday and will remain open until 15 minutes following each game. Tickets are always available at saintsbaseball.com.

Tickets for the playoff games in St. Paul will go on sale at 10:00 am on Saturday, August 15th. There are two ways for fans to purchase tickets to Saints playoff games at CHS Field. First, single game tickets will be made available for the Saturday, September 12 game to individuals and groups. Second, six game playoff strips can be purchased, which include tickets to all potential home playoff games (games 3-5 in the Semifinal round and games 3-5 in the Championship round). Fans electing to purchase the playoff strip will receive a priority position on the waiting list for new season tickets to the 2016 season at CHS Field. Fans purchasing the playoff ticket strip will be credited for any unplayed games.

Fans wanting to purchase single game playoff tickets can do so one of three ways: either in person at the box office beginning on Saturday, August 15 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. or Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., over the phone during the same hours or online at saintsbaseball.com. Fans interested in purchasing groups of 25 or more or full playoff strips should do so in person at the box office or over the phone during those same hours.